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Tuesday, April 10, 2012

SAM HOUSTON JONES STATE PARK - LAKE CHARLES, LA

Left South Toledo Bend around 10:00 this morning and stopped for fuel then headed to our next park.

Arrived at Sam Houston State Park around 2:00 this afternoon. My GPS took me down what turned out to be a short cut road that was closed and I had to detour. Spent 45 minutes down and then back up that road. It would not recalculate to a new route no matter how far off I was from where it wanted me to go. Finally, I stopped the coach and got my map out and located a town up the road to my destination and set the GPS and it finally stopped saying, "Make a U turn," and took me onto the new route.

Got to the campground and got set up. Funny how things are not always how you remember them. This is my third time here, each time for one night only. The first time was in November and it was great. The campground was almost empty. I loved it. Deer came out of the woods to greet us and it was cold and brisk and the sun was shinning. The photos I took at that time are awesome. This time the area looks different. There are more campers, of course, and the grounds look unkept and not as pretty as before, most of the spaces are too close together, and there are no trash bins within the RV park.

That is just too close for comfort.

The awning is almost touching the next camper.

Take a real close look at this. These are two sites (20 &22) with NO space between them.

Site #21 - There's only about 5 feet between me and the site on my driver's side. It's a good thing I'm on the end of the row and have a nice yard. Heard the gators croaking last night. I was told that in the last 2 years they have eaten nearly all the ducks that used to be in the pond.

View from my door.

Walked to the pond and the boat launch. The sky was overcast so didn't have any sun to reflect on the water which always makes for a better shot. Xi Shi found some water and of course took a dip. She walked into the pond and got mud all over her legs that didn't come off in the water so I took her to the boat launch and she went down the ramp and into the lake which did the trick. She loved it. When she came out she did her happy dance and wanted to run crazy but the leash kept stopping her in her tracks.

That's our roof toop in the center across the pond.

Little black feet.

Wading at the boat launch.

Nice and clean now.

It has a pretty red face.

Behind our site is a swampy area with ducks and she tried to go after one and kept barking at it till it went away from her. She chased a few squirrels up trees and just had a great time playing outside this afternoon.

Those little squirrels are fast.

Walked over to my favorite site #1 which is a pull through with sewer.

Placed a Peace Rock. We're leaving in the morning.

Last time I placed a Peace Rock here someone from Lafayette found it and wrote me an email. Hope someone contacts me to let me know they have one of the many rocks I've placed around the state.

Post Script: As I was leaving the park I spoke with a camp host who had been on site for the last 4 months and was leaving in two days. I told her what I was doing and she asked me if I had seen the bathrooms. I told her I had not. She said that I should see them and make a complaint as they are aweful. I did not go into the bathhouse.

I then left my site and rode to Camping Area 2. There is a pull through site #24 that allows a veiw of the pond and is very spacious. I wish I had taken a photo of it but I was in a hurry to leave so I didn't. If I had stayed in that area I would have enjoyed myself much more. It is a lot nicer than the pullthrough site #1 in Campground One.

PLACES I'VE BEEN IN THE UNITED STATES

PLACES I'VE BEEN IN CANADA

ABOUT ME

I was born in Texas but raised in Louisiana and have lived most of my adult life in Houma, Louisiana.

I entered college at the age of 32, having spent my 20s traveling around the country living the hippie lifestyle. It took me 12 years to finally complete my formal education and received a BA in Psychology, an MA in Psychological Counseling, and a PhD in Human Services.

For over 25 years I worked in the field of Mental Health as a Counselor/Therapist and Social Services Program Director. I burned out after the first 3.

For the last 7 years of my employment I ran my own Academic Tutoring Center out of my home, which I enjoyed a great deal. I retired in 2008 and married my business partner who passed away in 2010.

So now I am free for the first time since I was a young girl. Free to not have to work to support myself as I am receiving monthly Widow's Benefits and am careful to stay on budget. I'm free to travel in my motorhome and have new experiences and make new friends.

Just sold some property and will have a little extra to travel with. So, now with my 3 cats and 2 Shih Tzus - I'm ready to go.

After spending over 12 years in college, obtaining 3 degrees, and having my head filled with all that book learning - I can leave it all behind me now and go back to find the old me... the me that believed in magic. Not superstitious magic but the magic of reality.